Intake manifold



A. MOORE .March 14, w33.

INTAKE MANIFOLD Filed Nov. 19, 1.927 2 Sheets-Sheet l ITIIIIIIIII xINVENTOR f/y/f? #7m/4@ ATTORNEYS March 14, 1933. I A, MOORE 1,901,763

INTAKE MANIFOLD Filed Nov. 19. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY l y/f@ wd/Jaim/Led ATTORNEYS- Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEARLINGTON MOORE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOMAXMOOR CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWAREINTAKE MANIFOLD Application led November 19, 1927.

My invention relates to means for conducting a fuel charge to theseveral cylinders of an internal combustion engine, and the same has forits object more particularly to provide a simple, compact and efli cientdevice which effects an economy in the delivery of said charge t0 theseveral cylinders, and .improves the operation of the engine.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified which serves to uniformly distribute the fuel chargeto the several cylinders with the constituents thereof in the desiredproportions.

Further, said invention has for its object yto provide a device of thecharacter specilied in which the same is constructed to accelerate themovement of the fuel charge to the more remote of the cylinders andeffect the delivery thereof to all of the cylinders at approximatelythesame velocity.

Further, said invention has for its ob- ,ject to provide a device of thecharacter specied in which the mea-ns serving to ac celerate the passageof the fuel charge through the manifold also tends toprevent thecondensation of portions of the fuel .charge upon the walls of themanifold and to reduce the tendency thereof to load, whereby to effectat all engine speeds the delivery to the several cylinders of fuelcharges quantitatively and qualitatively the same.

Further, said invention has lfor its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified .in which the branches thereof are constructed toeffect delivery of the charge mixture into the cylinders by a rammingaction.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which the bases of certain of the branchesthereof are constructed to allow adequate drainage of precipitated fueltowards the center and effect a relatively slight progressive decreasein the cross-sectional area of the branches as a whole towards the outerends thereof for maintaining the desired charge velocity.

Further, said invention has for its ob- Serial No. 234,417.

ject to provide a device of the character specified in which thebranches thereof are constructed to maintain a straight line ow of thecharge to the cylinders.

Further, said invention has for its object 5 to provide a device of thecharacter specified in which the passages thereof are designed tocompensate for differences in distance of travel of the charge forobtaining uniform charge distribution to the cylinders Without sacrificeof volumetric efficiency.

Other objects will in part be obvious, and in part be pointed outhereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my inventionconsists in the novel features of construction7 and in the combination,connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described andthen pointed out in the claims.

lVhen the ordinary manifold in use is employed, there is a markedtendency when operating at speeds Where loss of fuel by condensation onthe manifold walls is not a material factor for the cylinders fed fromcenter port to receive an excessively lean T5- mixture While thecylinders fed from the end ports receive a mixture which is excessivelyrich. This condition is aggravated because the incoming charge picks upcondensed fuel from the intake manifold walls, and C particularly in thelonger branches where the tendency to condense is greater. Thecondensation or loading up of fuel in the intake manifold takes placeprincipally during periods of low speed operation. The ac- S5 cumulatedor condensed fuel swept into the engine cylinders, especially when thethrottlc is opened for acceleration, causes waste of fuel, oil dilution,non-uniform distribution with temporary over-richness of the mixture 9in certain of the cylinders, and other detrimental effects.

.Vhile various expedients have been resorted to in order to obviatethese defects, none of them has proved very successful. My inventionsecures uniform distribution of the fuel charge to the several cylindersresulting in more eiiicient application of power to the crank shaftwhich produces smooth engine operation.

In the drawings forming part of this specification Fig. 1 is ahorizontal sectional view show ing one form of manifold constructedaccording to and embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the manifold in place on the engine; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view thereof.

Reference character 10 (Figs. 4 and 5) designates the cylinder block ofan internal combustion engine containing cylinders 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6,combustion chambers 14, intake valves 16, cylinder head 18 and sparkplugs 20.

The intake manifold 22 herein illustrated is for a six cylinder enginehaving intake ports 24 in sets of pairs in the cylinder block 10.

The manifold 22 as shown for a six cylinder engine has three branches, ashort middle branch 23 leading substantially direct to cylinders 3 and4, and two longer branches 26, 2-8 of elbow formation extendinglaterally to the end cylinders 1 and 2 and 5 and 6 respectively. lithcylinder blocks designed for receiving only two intake manifoldbranches, the center branch 23 is omitted. lith the form shown, riser 30leads upward to connect with the manifold at substantially the middlethereof and immediately below the entrances to its several branches, andat this point a mixing or diffusion chamber 31 is provided from whichthe mixture is supplied to all the manifold branches.

The passage of the riser 30 leading from the usual carburetor or othersource of charge supply which can be attached to the flange 32, ispreferably of uniform crosssection, but the passage may be of decreasingcross-section, if desired.

The straight-in passage 35 of the branch 23 from the opening or entrance34 thereto to the bore passage 24 in the cylinder block graduallyincreases in cross-sectional area, substantially as shown, to permit ofthe ex* pansion of said charge in the passage 35, and retard thevelocity thereof.

The branches 26 and 28 going to the end cylinders have enlarged entranceareas 26a and 28a thereto from the diffusion chamber 31, as compared tothe area of the opening 34 to the middle branch 23, and theircrosssectional area gradually decreases towards the elbow turns 38, 40in such branches to cause an increase in the velocity of the fuelcharged as the same approaches said elbows 38, 40, and in this way thecharge mixture can be delivered to the elbows 38, 40, which constitutesecondary entrances to the straight-in passages 42, 43 leading to theend pairs of cylinders.

The cross-sectional area of said branches at the elbows 38 and 40 issubstantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the entrance 34 tothe central branch 23, and the portions 42'and 43, similar inconstruction, function, and size to the branch 23, likewise increase incross-sectional area towards the outer ends thereof to provide outletsfrom the manifold substantially equal in area to the opening at theouter end of the branch 23.

The branches 26 and 28 each preferably comprises a semi-cylindricalupper portion 44 of substantially uniform cross-section from the innerend thereof to the elbow thereof, and a relatively constricted channelportion 46 at the base tnereof merging into the upper portion 44 andlikewise extending from the inner end of the branch into the elbowthereof and gradually decreasing in cross-sectional area towards saidelbow. The channel portions 46 ointly with the upper portions 44 formpassages providing the relatively large entrances 26a, 28a and graduallydecreasing in cross-sectional area to said elbows 38 and 40.

The horizontal portions 44 of the branches are of uniform cross-sectionand constitute thev major portions of the branches. The decrease incross-sectional area of each branch 26, 28 as a whole is effected ordetermined by the lesser complementary portion 46 having the center lineor axis thereof at an inclination relative to the axis of the upperportion 44. Adequate slope for drainage is thus provided at the base andthe rate of decrease in cross-sectional area of the branch as a wholecan be and is made less than that of the portion 46, the decrease incross-sectional area of the branch as a whole being relatively slight,and the slope of the portions 46 being adequate to allow drainage ofprecipitated fuel towards the center of the manifold.

Further, the centers of the successive cross-sectional areas of saidpassages, formed by said upper and lower portions 44 and 46 jointly, lieon lines A extending outwardly and upwardly, so that the charge enteringthe manifold readily defiects into the branches 26 and 28 through saidenlarged openings 260., 28a without unduly retarding the passagethereof. Said channel portions 46 also provide means for the return ofany condensed portions of the charge towards the riser 30.

The channel portions 46 also serve to oppose spiral movement of thecharge as the same passes through the longer passages, and maintain saidcharge in a straight line of travel so that the frictional elfects ofthe walls of the manifold thereon are reduced. The condensation ofquantities of the charge iio CLI

'upon the Walls of the manifold due to the centrifugal movement of thefuel charge is also reduced. Further, the slight difference in velocitybetween the portions of the charge passing through the channel 46 andthe portion 44 respectively induces a beneficial turbulent movement ofthe charge.

The elbows 38, 40 of the lateral branches going to the end cylinders arepreferably formed so as to minimize friction and charge retardationincident to change of direction, and in addition to extending thedrainage canals 46 in the floor of the manifold passages in a curve pastthe elbow turns as indicated at 48, 50,7Fig. l, l also form a groove ortrack around the inner surface of the outer part of 'the elbov7 part ofthe bore, as indicated at 52, thus minimizing frictional resistance tothe charge travel as it passes around the elbowv portion of the branch.

ln operation, the fuel charge enters the chamber 3l and is delivered tothe entrances 26a, 28a and 34 at substantially the same velocity. Thetapered branches 26 and 23 serve to accelerate the movement of thecharge as the same approaches the elbows 38 and 40 and thus reduce theretarding effects of friction thereon. rlhe construction above described.therefore delivers the fuel charge to the entrances 34, 38 and 4() ofthe several portions 23, 42, 43 at substantially the same velocity andin substantially the same quantities. As the fuel charge enters theportions 23, 42, 43 expansion thereof takes place, and, When the intakevalves 16 open, the inertia of the mass of fuel charge at the innerportions of the branches acting on the expanding portions of the chargeentering the cylinders causes the charge to be effectively received, or,as l desire to call this action, rammed into the cylinders Without lossof volumetric eiiciency.

The tapering formation of the longer branches 26 and 28, because of theresulting velocityT of the charge passing therethrough, serves tomaintain the particles of fuel in suspension and appreciably reduces theamount of condensation thereof.

However, when the condensed liquid is present in the channels 46, thecharge mixture moving in the opposite direction over it, produces asurface vaporizing effect thereon and causes the same to be deliverec aspart of the vaporized charge to the proper cylinders, thereby reducingthe quantity of fuel Which persists in a liquid and unvaporized state'The floors of all the straight-in branch portions 23, 42 and 43 alsopreferably slope back from the valve ports toward the inlets thereintoso as to dra-in back any condensed liquid into the canals 46 and mixingchamber 3l.

The result is that the charge is delivered to the straight-in parts Y42,43 of the lateral branches 26, 28 as effectively as the delivery thereofto the middle branch 23, the charge being uniformly distributed to thecylinders in substantially the proportions for which the carburetor isset.

l claim:

l. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches of unequal length having passages open at the outerends thereof to permit of the egress `of said charge from the manifold;the passages of the longer of said branches decreasing incross-sectional area from the inner ends thereof to intermediate points,thereof and increasing in cross-sectional area from said points to theouter ends thereof; and the cross-sectional area of the most constrictedportions of said longer branches being substantially equal to thecross-sectional area of the shorter of said branches at the entrancethereto.

2. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge` thereto, andincluding branches having passages open at the outer ends thereof topermit the egress of said charge from the manifold; certain of thepassages of said branches decreasing in cross-sectional area from theinner end thereof to a point intermediate the ends thereof, andincreasing in crosssectional area from said point towards the outer endthereof.

3. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches of unequal length having passages open at the outerends thereof to permit of the egress of said charge from the manifold;and the passage of the longer of said branches having a largercross-sectional area at its inner end than the area at the inner end ofthe shorter of said passages, and said longer passage decreasing incross-sectional area towards the outer portions thereof.

4. An intake manifold comprising a hollovv member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches 'having passages open at the outer ends thereof topermit of the egress of said charge fromithe manifold; certain of thepassages of said branches decreasing in cross-sectional area from theinner end thereof to a point intermediate the ends thereof andincreasing in cross-sectional area from said point tou'ails the outerend thereof; and the cross-sectional area of said passage at the innerend thereof being greater than the cross-sectional area of said passageat the outer end thereof.

5. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto andincluding branches having passages open at the outer ends thereof topermit of the egress of said charge from the manifold; certain of saidbranches having an elbow bend therein, and the passage thereofdecreasing in cross-sectional area from the inner end thereof to theelbow thereof, and increasing in cross-sectional area from said elbow tothe outer end thereof.

6. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto andincluding branches of unequal length having passages open at the outerends thereof to permitof the egress of said charge from said manifold;he outer ends of said several passages having substantially the samecross-sectional area; antl the longer of said branches having elbowbends therein, and the passages thereof d creasing in cross-sectionalarea from the inner ends thereof to the elbows thereof, and increasingin cross-sectional area from said elbows to the outer ends; and theinner end of each passage of said longer branches having a largercross-sectional area than the entrance of the shorter of said branches.

7. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding'branches extending outwardly from said intermediate openingand having openings at the outer ends thereof to permit of the egress ofsaid charge; certain of said branches having a channel portionprojecting freni the base thereof, and providing with the upper portionsthereof passages decreasing in cross-sectional area towards the endportions thereof and having the centers of the successivecross-sectional areas thereof lying on a line extending outwardly andupwardly to facilitate the movement of said charge into the branchthereof.

8. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying al fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches open at the outer ends thereof for the passage ofsaid charge therefrom; certain of said branches having a channel portionat the base thereof extending from the inner end of the branch towardthe outer portion thereof, and forming with the upper portion of thebranch a passage decrrasing in cross-sectional area toward the outerportion thereof.

9. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches open at the outer ends thereof to permit of theegress of the charge therefrom; certain of said branches having apassage therethrough including a substantially semi-cylindrical upperportion of uniform cross-sectional area from the inner end thereoftoward the outer portion thereof and a channel portion at the basethereof decreasing in cross-sectional area from its inner end towardsits outer end and serving as a drainage canal for the return towards thecenter of the manifold of any portions of the charge deposited in saidmember, and to oppose spiral movement of the charge in saidsemi-cylindrical por tion as the said charge passes toward the egressopening thereof.

l0. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches open at the outer ends thereof to permit of thepassage of said charge from the manifold; certain of said brancheshaving a relatively constricted channel portion atthe base thereofextending from the inner end thereof to a point adjacent the outer endthereof, and serving to drain off any portion of said charge depositedin the manifold and return the same towards the center of the manifold;and said channel portion decreasing in cross-sectional area towards theouter end thereof and jointly with the remaining portion of the branchthereof forming a passage decreasing in cross-sectional area towards theouter port-ions of the branch thereof for accelerating the movement ofthe charge vas the same passes therethrough.

ll. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches open at the outer ends thereof to permit of theegress of said charge from the manifold; certain of said branchesincluding a horizontally extending semi-cylindrical upper portion ofuniform cross-section and a relatively constricted channel portion at'the base thereof decreasing in cross-sectional area towards the outerend thereof; said upper and lower portions jointly forming a passagedecrcasing in cross-sectional area towards the outer end thereof, andhaving the centers of the successive cross-sectional areas thereof lyingon a line extending outwardly and upwardly from said intermediateopening.

l2. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches open at the outer ends thereof to permit of theegress of said chare from the manifold; certain of said branches havinga passage decreasing in cross-sectional area from the inner end thereofto a point intermediate the ends thereof, and increasing incross-sectional area therefrom to the outer end thereof; and the outerand inner portions of said passage having the lower wall portionsthereof inclined downwardly from the outer end thereof to saidintermediate opening.

13. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches open at the outer ends thereof to permiaof the egressof said charge from the manifold; certain of said branches having innerand outer portions arranged at an angle to each other; and the inner ofsaid portions having a channel portion of reduced cross-section at thebase thereof extending into said angularly related outer portion anddecreasing in cross-sectional area towards the same, and said channeledportion decreasing in cross-sectional area towards the outer endthereof.

14. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding elbow branches open at the outer ends thereof to permit of theegress of said charge from the manifold; said branches having channelportions of reduced cross-section at the bases of the inner portionsthereof extending to and decreasing in cross-sectional area towards theelbow portionsv thereof and providing passages decreasing incross-sectional area from the inner ends thereof towards the elbows;said passages increasing in cross-sectional area from said elbows to theouter ends thereof.

15. An intake manifold for multi-cylinder internal combustion enginescomprising a central chamber having an opening therein for supplying afuel charge thereto, a central branch leading from said chamber to thecentral pair of cylinders and gradually increasing in cross-sectionalarea from the said chamber toward the valveI ports, and longer branchesleading to the more remote cylinders and containing elbows, said lastnamed branches decreasing in crosssectional area from said chamber tothe elbows, and increasing in cross-sectional area from the elbowstoward the valve ports.

16. An intake manifold for multi-cylinder internal combustion enginescomprising a central chamber having an opening therein for supplying afuel charge thereto, a central branch leading from said chamber to thecentral pair of cylinders and Oradiially increasing in cross-sectionalarea from the said chamber toward the valve ports, and longer branchesleading to the more remote cylinders and containing elbows, said lastnamed branches decreasing in crosssectional area from said chamber tothe elbows, and increasing in cross-sectional area from the elbowstoward the valve ports, and the cross-sectional area of the mostconstricted portions of said longer branches being` substantially equalto the cross-sectional area of the central branch at the entrancethereto, and the cross-sectional area of the outer ends of the severalbranches being substantially equal.

17. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a charge mixture thereto,and including branches having elbows open at the outer ends thereof forthe egress of the charge mixture, each of said branches from the innerend thereof to the elbow including an upper portion forming a part ofthe branch passage having a substantially uniform cross-sectional areaand a lower portion substantially coextensive in length with the upperportion depending below the general outline thereof and mergingtherewith to form a complementary portion of the branch passage, saidlast named portion decreasing in cross-sectional area progressivelytoward the outer end thereof, whereby to decrease said branch passage incrosssectional area as a whole at a relatively lesser rate than the rateof decrease of the lower passa-ge portion.

18. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches open at the outer ends thereof to allow egress ofsaid charge from the manifold, certain of said branches having inner andouter portions arranged at an angle to each other, and the inner of saidportions having a lower part of progressively decreasing depth andcross-sectional area in the direction of and terminating substantiallyat the junction of the angularly related portions, and said lower parteffecting a progressive decrease in the cross-sectional area of theinner portion of the branch as a whole in the direction towards theouter end thereof.

19. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a charge mixture thereto,and including branches having elbows open at the outer ends thereof forthe passage of the mixtiiie therefrom, the inner portions of each branchincluding an upper part of substantially uniform cross section from theinner end thereof to the elbow, the axis thereof being substantially astraight line, and a lower part coextensive with the upper partdepending below the general outline thereof, and merging therewith, saidlower part progressively decreasing in depth and crosssectional areatowards the outer end thereof, and the axis thereof being substantiallya straight line disposed at an inclination to the first named axis.

20. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member including brancheshaving charge delivering portions at the ends there-k of and anintermediate opening for supplying a charge mixture thereto, each ofsaid Vat the outer ends branches from the innerend thereof substantiallyto said charge delivering portion including an upper portion ofsubstantially uniform cross-section and a lower portion depending belowthe general outline of said upper portion and merging therewith to formthe branch passage, said lower portion decreasing in cross-sectionalarea towards the outer end thereof and determining the rate of decreasein cross-secti nal area of the branch passage a whole from the inner endthereof to said charge delivering portion.

2l. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member including brancheshaving an intermediate opening for supplying a charge mixture thereto,each of said branches including an upper portion of substantiallyuniform cross-section forming a major part of the branch passage and alower portion coextensive therewith depending below the general outlineof said upper portion and merging therewith to form the remaining lesserpart of said branch passage, said lower portion progressively decreasingin crosssectional area and depth towards the outer end of the branch toinsure drainage of fuel towards the center of the manifold, and effectrelatively slight progressive decrease in cross-sectional area of thebranch passage as a whole in the direction towards the outer endthereof.

22. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches open at the outer ends thereof to allow the egress ofthe charge therefrom; certain of said branches including a substantiallysemi-cylindrical upper portion of uniform cross-sectional area from theinner end thereof toward the outer portion thereof and a complementaryportion extending below the general outline of the upper portion andmerging therewith, said complementary portion decreasing incross-sectional area and depth from its inner end towards its outer endand serving to drain fuel towards the center of the manifold, and effectprogressive decrease in crosssectional area of the branch passage as awhole in the direction towards the outer end thereof.

23. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding elbow branches open thereof to allow the egress of said chargefrom the manifold, certain of said branches including a horizontallyextending semi-cylindrical upper portion of uniform cross-section fromthe inner end thereof to the elbow and a base portion substantiallycoextensive therewith extending below the general outline of the upperportion and merging therewith, said base portion decreasing incross-sectional area towards the outer end thereof to form a branchpassage decreasing in cross-sectional area as a. whole towards the outerend thereof.

24. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a fuel charge thereto, andincluding branches terminating in elbows open at the outer ends thereoffor the passage of the charge therefrom, said elbow branches from theinner ends thereof to the elbows each including an upper portion ofuniform cross-sectional area having a coextensive channel portion at thebase4 thereof merging with said upper portion, said channel portionsdecreasing in depth and cross-sectional area from the inner ends of theelbow branches to the elbows thereof and forming with said upperportions passages decreasing in cross-sectional area from the inner endsof said branches to said elbows thereof.

25. An intake manifold comprising a hollow member having an openingintermediate the ends thereof for supplying a charge mixture thereto andincluding a central short branch and longer lateral branches havingelbows at the outer ends thereof, said lateral `,ranches from theentrances thereto to the elbows including upper portions of uniformcross-sectional area and lower portions merging with the upper portionsand decreasing in cross-sectional area towards the outer ends thereof,and said lateral branches at the entrances thereto having across-sectional area greater than that at the inner end of the shorterbranch, and at the elbows thereof having a cross-sectional areasubstantially the same as that at the inner end of said shorter branch.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name hereto.

ARLINGTON MOORE.

